Could CAR-T cell therapy revolutionize autoimmune disease treatment? This comprehensive review explores the potential of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy in treating various autoimmune diseases, moving beyond its established success in hematological malignancies. The paper reviews clinical trials and preclinical experiments, indicating promising capabilities in mitigating the immune system's indiscriminate suppression by traditional immunosuppressants. By persisting and proliferating in vivo, CAR-T cells offer a tailored and precise therapeutic approach, overcoming the pharmacokinetic constraints of monoclonal antibodies. The review covers CAR-T therapy's application in subtypes of autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus and multiple sclerosis, emphasizing the therapeutic potential for relapsed/refractory cases. This paper aims to explore a safe and effective therapeutic option for autoimmune diseases by incorporating innovations from hematological tumor studies. CAR-T therapy holds promise in mitigating several shortcomings, including the indiscriminate suppression of the immune system by traditional immunosuppressants. These detailed analyses provide a foundation for future research and clinical applications in autoimmune disease treatment.
Published in the Chinese Medical Journal, this article aligns with the journal's focus on cutting-edge medical research and innovative therapies. By reviewing the application of CAR-T cell therapy to autoimmune diseases, the study contributes to the journal’s aim of disseminating advances in internal medicine and immunology, particularly those relevant to clinical practice in China and worldwide.